Elbow Room

Designer/contractor Chip Wade solves a noise nightmare in a great room renovation

Homeowners Bill and Jennifer Langley's solid concrete house has one big living/dining room downstairs that is the only space for entertaining family, friends and kids. But when everyone's gathered, it's crowded and the noise level is a nightmare. Designer/contractor Chip Wade wants to relocate the kids when they entertain, give Jennifer a home office to replace the small nook she's using upstairs, and spruce up the backyard. Chip restructures this house by building a home office/den from an existing patio structure, creates custom built-in seating to open up the flow, and cuts through the concrete wall for access to the new outside BBQ area.